Tag Archives: writers

Ryan Werner is for real

So, check it: my good friend/archnemesis, frequent referent in my blog posts, Captain Caveman lookalike, Midwest rock star, and kick-ass writer, Ryan Werner, has launched himself a website. And it fairly rules. Really clever concept and structure, gang, with links to all his shenanigans. If you like good fiction, sleazy rock-n-roll, and/or really hairy dudes,Continue reading “Ryan Werner is for real”

“We’ll eat you up — we love you so!”

When I was a child, I knew where the wild things were. I was one of them. When I read Maurice Sendak’s classic book — again and again — as a child, that was one of the most important things I took away from the text. I was a wild terror of a boy, afterContinue reading ““We’ll eat you up — we love you so!””

Happy Irish Writers Day!

A couple of years ago, I posted a list of great Irish writers — or, at least, ones I’ve read and liked — in celebration of St. Patrick’s day. This year, I have a new favorite Irish writer, and she’s going to get the post all to herself: the fabulous Ethel Rohan. So far, I’ve onlyContinue reading “Happy Irish Writers Day!”

Smile like you’re up to something

Over at Jersey Devil Press, we’re at it again. What, exactly, we’re up to, though, is a little harder to pin down — this issue is all about ambiguity! But let’s just say we’ve got the end of the world to worry about, ghosts to interview, cat entrails to clean up, and loads of otherContinue reading “Smile like you’re up to something”

To all my friends and readers attending AWP

People who know me are probably sick of me whining and moaning over AWP in Chicago this year, because I can’t go even though it’s one of my favorite conferences in one of my favorite cities. But alas, it was not meant to be — even if I had managed to scrape together the cashContinue reading “To all my friends and readers attending AWP”

“I want them to bloom.”

A fellow writer — a beautiful writer, a brilliant writer — has composed a wonderful commentary on relationship abuse. It is well, well worth a read. The power and bravery she exhibits, the empowerment and courage she shares with women, the hope for women, is just astounding: I want people to remember that it’s neverContinue reading ““I want them to bloom.””

Patrons, series 2: a lineage of writing and teaching

It has been simply ages since I last wrote about the spiritual and temporal guides to my career, my “Patrons of writing and teaching” series. It’s not for lack of content (in addition to this post, I have several others in my pocket for later), but I got quite sidetracked by the writing itself, whichContinue reading “Patrons, series 2: a lineage of writing and teaching”

On self-publishing (no, it’s not as rosy as you think it is)

I’m going to keep this simple, gang: Go read Catherynne M. Valente‘s blog post “The End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).” Go read it Right. Now. Because it is the best evaluation of self-publishing and e-publishing and traditional publishing and the future of books and everything else we allContinue reading “On self-publishing (no, it’s not as rosy as you think it is)”

11-11: Russian fiction review (Vladimir Nabokov)

I suppose that if one is going to read Nabokov for the first time — as I have with this book — one ought to start with Lolita. Because, well, why wouldn’t you? But Lolita — the character, at least — has become such a part of our cultural consciousness that I fear any readingContinue reading “11-11: Russian fiction review (Vladimir Nabokov)”